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Published : 19 Jul 2026, 01:04 PM
The International Crimes Tribunal's (ICT) prosecution has received a draft investigation report into the "murder and crimes against humanity" case over Hifazat-e Islam's rally at Motijheel's Shapla Chattar 13 years ago.
Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam told bdnews24.com on Sunday that the prosecution had received a draft, not the final report, and that it was currently being reviewed.
He declined to disclose what information the draft report contained. "We can't say anything about the report right now, because it's still entirely a draft.”
Hifazat leaders visited the prosecution's legal team on the same day to discuss the case's progress.
Aminul said the leaders would hold discussions with the prosecution. "They have come to learn about the progress. We will probably brief them, and then proceed once the final report arrives.”
The chief prosecutor had earlier said on Jul 8 that the investigation into the 13-year-old case had already been completed, with the draft report undergoing scrutiny.
He had said at the time that once the tribunal resumed work on Jul 21 after its recess, formal charges would be submitted following the filing of the investigation report.
The list of accused includes ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch chief Harunor Rashid and Ganajagaran Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker, among others.
Aminul also said earlier that evidence had been found against former home minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and several journalists.
Hifazat-e Islam had called the Motijheel rally on May 5, 2013, demanding punishment for bloggers in response to the Shahbagh movement.
The rally triggered widespread violence and chaos across the area that day, before a joint security operation removed the group from the site that night.
After the fall of the Awami League government in the 2024 July Uprising, a complaint over the Shapla Chattar incident was filed with the tribunal on Aug 20, 2024.
On May 3 this year, the ICT's investigation agency reported that 32 people had died in the incident.
The following day, the chief prosecutor said the case could see 28 to 30 suspects, including Hasina.
Former state minister for home Shamsul Hoque Tuku, former additional director general of RAB Ziaul Ahsan, former IGP AKM Shahidul Haque, former deputy inspectors general (DIGs) Molla Nazrul Islam and Abdul Jalil Mondal, and Shahriar Kabir, president of the advisory council of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, have been arrested and remain in jail over the case.
On Apr 5, the prosecution produced them before the tribunal and sought two months to submit the investigation report.
Former minister Dipu Moni, and journalists Mozammel Hoque Babu and Farzana Rupa, were also shown arrested in the case on May 14.
